El Dia de Los Muertos

Our  dia de los muertos altar this year is celebrating our aunts who have died.  I do like this Mexican holiday which is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.    It is celebrated in many parts of the world, associated with All Hallow’s Eve or All Saints day but probably originated in precolumbian Aztec Mexico.  All Mexican towns have their own traditions but all include favorite foods and drink and sometimes all night picnics in the cemetary.  My mother had 3 sisters who were very close and I have many good memories of growing up with  them.   Herb had a very dear  Aunt who belonged to the Daughters of Sweden in Chicago..she gave us the well used pancake pan and many other Swedish treasures.   So that’s why all the Swedish stuff, but Mexican as well ….the silver candlestick ..Mom’s oldest sister lived in Mexico for a good many years.   The lion is from the Art Institute in Chicago where they all lived.   All were great cookie bakers and gardeners.  We’ve made sugar sculls before but not this year.

There is an Oaxacan artist who is doing a very colorful dia de los muertos sand painting in the lobby of the Seattle Art Museum which we plan to see on Thursday (and blip)

Today was a very nice day with 1, the very last appointment in my old medical clinic, 2, a lovely walk with one friend and then 3, a sit down long chat and coffee with another.   What is more important than having the time and spending the time with the special people in our lives.